The Aussie island filled with friendly Quokkas

Situated off the coast of Perth in Western Australia, Rottnest Island is a protected nature reserve that’s home to the quokka, a small, wallaby-like marsupial that’s been dubbed the happiest animal on the earth by the Huffington Post in 2012, thanks to their little smiling snouts and the hundreds of selfies the animal has been snapping with visitors to the island.

The island is a popular destination for tourists and holidaying Australians alike. The Mediterranean-style climate and indigenous flora and fauna of the island provide the backdrop to a very special coastal holiday experience. The Island is also one of the last strongholds for the quokkas, whose numbers have been severely depleted on the mainland due to pests and other predators. But Rottnest Island has been making headlines for an entirely different reason.

The islands native quokka population is particularly friendly with visitors and are more than happy to snap a selfie with you. Instagram is inundated with smiling qoukkas and stoked tourists grabbing a pic with the furred marsupial to immortalise the trip on social media.

The quokka selfie has become so popular that the Rottnest Island website has a page dedicated to informing potential visitors on how to approach the animal, and get a photo, without harming the animal or environment, as well as an informational video

Laura BarryLaura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.